A fire extinguisher is critical to having a sound fire protection and safety plan — if it operates when needed. Unfortunately, fire extinguisher failures happen, and when they do, it’s usually at the worst possible time.
However, you can take steps to prevent this from happening to you. Here are five easy ways to ensure your fire extinguisher is always ready to keep you safe.
1. Keep It Charged
If you’ve used your fire extinguisher recently, it’ll automatically be less effective the next time you need it. It doesn’t mean it won’t necessarily work, but you want your extinguisher at full effectiveness to combat a potentially large fire.
A less-than-full capacity fire extinguisher could also have difficulty maintaining pressure and start leaking. Prevent this by contacting fire safety specialists right after using your extinguisher for recharging.
2. Get It Serviced Often
Regular servicing from fire safety professionals is the only way to ensure your fire extinguisher is ready in an emergency.
Inspections, repairs, and recharges ensure there’s virtually no chance you’ll experience a fire extinguisher failure. These companies can also help keep your fire sprinkler systems up to code so you’re prepared for a potential fire on all fronts.
3. Check for Damage or Mishandling
It’s easy to assume there’s nothing wrong with your fire extinguisher, but knowing whether that’s true is essential. And mishandling isn’t just tossing it around or breaking it. Leaving it out in the sun or a freezing cold room can be just as bad.
Investigate the valve assembly and see if there are any loose pieces. Always keep your fire extinguisher in a place where it won’t accidentally get knocked into or damaged. If you think it may be damaged, call for a professional inspection of your fire extinguisher in New Jersey.
4. Protect It from Corrosion
Corrosion can happen to fire extinguishers that are left out around a lot of moisture. It’ll eventually affect the metal components like the lever, which can create problems when you try to discharge them.
Corrosion can also damage the tank so much that it can’t contain the contents. The result could be the tank bursting open when the operator tries to use it, meaning there’s no way to put out the fire, and the person using it is likely to get severely injured.
It’s easy to avoid corrosion if you keep your fire extinguisher inside — just store it in a dry space. If you have to keep one outside, make sure you have ways to protect it from the elements so that rain and snow don’t promote corrosion.
5. Check the Hose
Sometimes, the hose can become blocked. The blockage could be due to anything from debris to bugs. Hoses are also susceptible to tearing, so it’s wise to investigate for blockages and tears.
The hose doesn’t like cold temperatures either, so don’t keep it in a cold environment. Check the hoses when you inspect your fire extinguishers to ensure they discharge correctly during a fire.
Fire Safety Starts With Prevention
Preparation is key to protecting your business from fire damage. And while you may have a sophisticated fire sprinkler system and fire extinguishers, they need proper maintenance when needed.
Use these five tips to give yourself some added assurance that your fire protection equipment will work correctly when you need it most.
Don’t forget to have a fire extinguisher inspection in NJ and maintenance performed by fire safety professionals frequently; ignoring potential problems with these systems can have dire consequences for your well-being and business. Give yourself peace of mind with proper care from the experts from ABC Fire & Safety.